Letter-file



(No Model) H. S. STERNBERGER.

LETTER FILE.

Patented Apr. 7; 1896.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN S. STERNBERGER, OF PIQUA, OHIO.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 557,623, dated April '7, 1896.

Application filed December 1, 1894. Serial No. 530,543. (No model.)

bundled, and a new set of indexing-sheets be placed in the casing.

My invention consists in the combination, with acontaining drawer or casing, of a stiff backing or cover provided with wire loops and index-sheets carried upon the same and held in place in the casing by a recess or ledge in rear and a stop in front.

In the drawings herewith, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved filing-case complete as in use.

, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the transfer-case detached; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the transfer-case bundled. Fig. I is a partial cross-section of the filing-case, showing the construction and mounting of the springclamp; and Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section exhibiting the loop or staple in position and illustrating the mode of use of the filing-case.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates a filing-case of the ordinary type, and l3 the spring arm or clamp. The spring-arm is somewhat yoke-shaped, with its ends bent outward to form journals 1) inprolongations of a common axis, and outwardly of the j ournals bent into crank-arms b in the radial relation indicated in Fig. 4:. The clamp-arm B is held in place by caps or staples c 0 cover-' ing the journals Z) secured to the back of the casing, and the crank-arms b are acted upon by leaf-springs s, also secured to the back of the casing and lying against the crank-arms in front. This arrangement is simple and effective and does not interfere with the index-sheets d and their contents. Centrally to the front cross-bar of the clamp-arm B is pivoted a supplemental foot or finger piece 13, of rectangular or other suitable form, whose function is to distribute the downward pressure of the clamp over a larger area and also to adapt it to any irregularities of thickness of the contained mass of memoranda. As such collections often contain postal cards and other smaller or larger memoranda, the adjusted and distributed pressure of the supplemental foot B serves a most useful pur pose in holding the mass in place when the case is moved.

In my improvement the lower index-sheet or a separate lower sheet of the series is made stiffer and stronger than the others and provided at the rear with one or more wire loops or staples e, riveted or otherwise secured to and standing up therefrom. One prong of each staple passes through the series of the index sheets and is curved backward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to facilitate lifting up and turning back the index-sheets in the use of the device, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

lVhen the series of index-sheets and the bottom piece D are in position in the casing, the loops e pass into vertical recesses f at the back of the filingcase, by which the entire mass is held against displacement laterally. They are held against displacement vertically by a slight projection of the lower sheet or cover D to the rear beyond the loops, beneath a ledge formed by a horizontal recess g at the back of the filing-case. They are also retained against displacement horizontally in front by a lip 51: secured to the front of the easing and projecting slightly above the bottom. The lower sheet or cover D is provided with flaps d d? at the sides and the front arranged to fold over, as indicated in Fig. 3, to cover the top, bottom, and rear of the bundled mass. The loops 6 remain permanently with the mass and form a guard at the rear against loss of papers.

The cover D with its flaps and the loops form a knockdown transfer-case, which constitutes partof the filing-case and system of indexing-sheets, so that when the contents of the filing-case are removed nothing remains to be done but to close and secure the flaps, as shown in Fig.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 5 that in the ordinary use of the filing'case all the index-sheets prior to the letter sought can be lifted upon the loops into the position shown, where the filing-arm B becomes a back against which they rest while the examina- ICO tion proceeds, thus greatly facilitating the use of the device.

No separate transfercase is required,the device as shown being complete in all respects.

Fastening-buttons or other suitable fastenings 'y are employed to retain the flaps in place.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, as follows:

1. In a letter-filing case, in combination with a series of index-sheets and a bottom board or cover carrying the wire loops to which the index-sheets are secured, a containingcase provided with a recess at the back to engage the rear of the cover and a stop at the front substantially as set forth.

2. In a filing-case in combination with the bottom cover provided with the loops, the containing-casing recessed at the rear to admit the wire loops and provided with a raised lip in front substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN S. STERNBERGER.

Vitnesses L. M. HosEA, SANDoW FREYBLER. 

